Media Operational Notice

Education Committee to be Briefed on Common Funding Scheme

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education will receive a briefing from Departmental officials on proposed changes to the Common Funding Scheme at its meeting on Wednesday 12 February 2014.

The Common Funding Scheme allocates over £1billion to schools in Northern Ireland every year.  DE’s original proposals to rebalance school funding - targeting more money at socially deprived schools – have been controversial with many primary schools apparently facing budget cuts.  The Committee will scrutinise responses to the recent consultation and consider whether the injection of additional cash and the introduction of a contingency fund by the Department will address schools’ concerns.

The Committee will also receive a briefing on a wide-ranging review on the future of GCSEs and A-levels.

The full meeting agenda is available here

Time:             9.30am

Date:              Wednesday, 12 February 2014

Venue:           Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

This meeting will be open to the public and will also be streamed live on the Northern Ireland Assembly Website via the following link.  

http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Live-Coverage/Video-Live-Stream-1/

Media Opportunities

Interviews with the Chairperson of the Committee, Mervyn Storey MLA may be available upon request.